WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and 12 of their Republican Senate colleagues in urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to keep the U.S. Senate in session until all 12 appropriations bills have been debated and passed by the Senate.

Congress averted a shutdown this past weekend and set a November 17 deadline for new spending agreement. The letter comes as the Senate is not expected to be in session until October 16.

“We urge you to modify the Senate calendar so that we remain in session Monday through Friday every week until all 12 fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills are passed in the Senate and House and signed into law by President Biden,” the senators wrote. “While valuable work is done while Senators are back in their home states, it is imperative that we remain in DC until our appropriations work can be completed. That is what the American people expect and deserve of us.”

“The continuing resolution extended government funding until November 17th,” the senators continued. “That allows seven weeks for the Senate to consider the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills. The past nine weeks make it clear that we cannot afford to take a weekday off, much less a weeklong recess, with so much work to be completed in such a condensed time.”

Sens. Johnson and Ricketts are joined on this letter by Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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